Question

Explain the following :
(i) Bio-Piracy
(ii) Bio - Patent

Answer 1

Part (i): Biopiracy:

1. Biopiracy is defined as an illegal removal of biological materials.
   
2. Some organizations and multinational companies exploit and patent the biological resources or bioresources of other nations without proper authorization from the countries concerned and this is called Biopiracy.

Part (ii): Biopatent:

1. A patent is the right granted by the government, to an inventor, to prevent others to make commercial use of one's invention.
2. In the present time, patents are being granted for biological entities and for the products derived from them and these patents are called biopatents.
   
3. Example, In 1995, the USA Lab granted a patent to the Medical Centre, University of Mississippi (USA) for the use of turmeric powder as a wound healing agent. CSIR, New Delhi (India) objected this patent and the patent was cancelled in 1998.
   
4. The new evidence established that the use of turmeric to promote wound healing had been known for generations in India.